At UCLH you will have access to the full range of latest treatments and technology and will have a personal, individual care plan based around your needs. You will receive expert care from a specialist team in a safe and award winning environment. 

Your treatment will be delivered within a number of comprehensive, dedicated services led by medical and nursing cancer care experts. This is enhanced further by support from a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) who complement the medical team and oversee your treatment journey. They offer ongoing support, from diagnosis and treatment to investigations and outcomes. This includes telephone advice and support when you are at home.

Your treatment plan

Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) will depend on what stage the condition is when it is diagnosed. Other factors will also be considered, such as your age, overall health and fitness, and any existing medical problems.

As CLL often develops very gradually, the time scales for treatment vary considerably. Some people don't experience symptoms for a long time and may not need treatment for many years, possibly decades.

For patients with early stage disease with no symptoms, stable blood counts and limited numbers of enlarged lymph nodes there is no advantage in starting treatment early. In such cases, a policy of 'watchful waiting' is usually recommended, which involves regular visits to your doctor and blood tests so that the condition's progress can be carefully monitored. Many studies have confirmed that this monitoring approach is safe and does not reduce the chances of survival for patients.

For symptomatic patients and those in whom the disease is progressing faster, you will have discussions with the CLL specialist with regards to treatment. Your case will also be discussed in a multidisciplinary team (MDT), meeting where several doctors and other health professionals recommend the best treatment option for you. 

You should not be rushed into making a decision about your treatment. Before deciding, you may wish to talk to friends and family, and your partner.

You will be invited back to see your CLL team for a full review and discussion about the risks and benefits of any treatments planned before therapy begins. Your personal wishes for treatment will always be taken into consideration in this discussion. You will also be allocated a key worker which is normally your CNS. If you have enrolled in a trial, it will be a trial practitioner. The CNS and research practitioner have expert knowledge to help support and guide you through your diagnosis and treatment. He or she will be your main point of contact within the hospital and whilst you are at home.

Clinical trials research new treatments to see if they are more effective than the standard treatments already available. This may be testing a new drug, or giving an existing drug in a different way. They aim to find the treatments that work best and cause the fewest side effects.

Clinical trials may be carried out to:

  • Test new treatments, such as chemotherapy drugs, biological agents or antibody treatment
  • Look at new combinations of existing treatments, or change the way they are given, to make them more effective or to reduce side effects

Should there be a clinical trial which may be suitable for you, your doctor and the research team will provide this information and discuss participation options with you.